Table 3

Pooled RR (from cohort studies) of CKD progression in the lower SES compared with the higher in series of subgroup analyses

Subgroup (progression)IncomeEducation
nRR (95% CI)I2 nRR (95% CI)I2
Overall71.24 (1.12 to 1.37)66.6% (0.006)71.11 (0.94 to 1.30)71.3% (0.002)
Geographic area
 USA61.27 (1.08 to 1.50)72.5% (0.003)51.06 (0.86 to 1.32)71.3% (0.002)
 Europe11.19 (1.13 to 1.26)21.23 (1.17 to 1.30)0.0% (0.861)
 Asia00
Country’s income group
 High71.24 (1.12 to 1.37)66.6% (0.006)71.11 (0.94 to 1.30)75.6% (0.001)
 Middle00
SES-related risk factor adjustments
 None31.19 (1.03 to 1.37)78.4% (0.010)31.23 (1.16 to 1.29)0.0% (0.579)
 Health behaviours010.90 (0.69 to 0.18)
 Comorbid conditions11.45 (1.23 to 1.71)11.11 (0.93 to 1.33)75.6% (0.001)
 +Health behaviours21.18 (0.93 to 1.52)54.6% (0.138)10.93 (0.80 to 1.09)
 +Healthcare access11.29 (0.82 to 2.04)11.06 (0.75 to 1.50)
CKD progression definitions
 Initiation of RRT41.26 (1.10 to 1.45)80.4% (0.002)51.16 (0.96 to 1.41)75.2% (0.003)
 Initiation of RRT or death from renal failure11.30 (1.12 to 1.50)ß0
 Scr elevation11.00 (0.73 to 1.37)10.90 (0.69 to 0.18)
 30% eGFR decline11.29 (0.82 to 2.04)11.06 (0.75 to 1.50)
Study design
 Prospective61.26 (1.13 to 1.40)70.1% (0.005)41.07 (0.88 to 1.29)76.0% (0.006)
 Retrospective11.00 (0.80 to 1.50)31.20 (0.76 to 1.91)76.25 (0.015)
Time period
 1990s21.19 (1.02 to 1.38)70.1% (0.067)0
 2000s11.00 (0.80 to 1.50)21.18 (0.69 to 2.02)88.0% (0.004)
 2010s41.39 (1.11 to 1.74)75.0% (0.007)51.07 (0.89 to 1.29)68.1% (0.014)
  • CKD, chronic kidney disease; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; RR, risk ratio; RRT, renal replacement therapy; Scr, serum creatinine; SES, socioeconomic status.